It has been a sucessful ish week here in the CTM in Sao Paulo Brazil. The flight was MUITO long.The first day was the equivalent of like 4 days. We are going to the temple tomorrow morning and need to get up at 4 am. We don't get to go to bed earlier tonight. ew.
The elders here are so nice and have helped me so much, the other districts that is. The elders in my district seemed really familiar to me and I realized that it was because I knew them in the pre mortal life, along with the sisters.
Presidente here is so nice and so strict haha. He always says that reverence will bring revelation. It is very true. This really is the Lord's house and His work.
The headsets that we use because we don't know Portuguese are so painful. The language is a beautiful language but very difficult for me to learn; my district has gotten the hang of Portuguese and I still can't remember how to say how I'm doing. but I do know how to do a finger snap and only 2 others in my district know how to do it. So I just do that all the time.
My companion is Elder Havenar. He is such a great guy. I love him to death. He is very strong; he is going into the naval academy and then into the marines to be a commander or something. He is a little tough on me but I think I need it because I've been having a little too much fun here.
I love the food so much. The rice and beans and kinda nothing else. We have stuff that looked like mac and cheese and we put it on bread. It tasted like a chicken sandwich. We also have this runny oatmeal stuff. I LOVE THAT STUFF SO MUCH. IF I COULD EAT THAT EVERY MORNING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I WOULD. MMMMMMMM Also we had this pudding stuff with chocolate on top, mmmm I love it.
It has been cold and rainy and not humid. California was more humid and hotter. I put on my sweater all of yesterday, and one of the sisters has blankets.
I need to go now for some reason. Lots more to say.
Benny messaged us a bit before he sent his email. He couldn't call because the headphones at the computer were broken. Here are some of the messages he sent:
-The irons we have here are just a step above what [our friend serving in India] has haha. My companhiero, Elder Havenar (pronounced Haven are), burnt his pants!!!!!!!!!! muito nao bem!
-Food is amazing, class is so long I fall asleep during devotionals too haha oops.
-We have lots of guarana here and it's awesome and they have a thing called limao and it tastes like limeade. (Guarana is a Brazilian soda.)
-It's way fun here I also forgot my razor haha
-Also there are Japanese elders and sisters here learning Japanese going to Japan and Brazil and its way cool
(The Sao Paulo MTC teaches Portuguese, Spanish, and Japanese. Brazil has the largest concentration of Japanese people outside of Japan.)
-Portuguese is muito bom! It's actually not it's really hard to figure it out and I have no time to do anything. I get to my room and have like 30 minutes to study the language, scriptures, and write in my journal. Not enough time.
-They also have chocolate milk and better chocolate milk in the vending machines.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Friday, September 20, 2019
Departure and Arrival
(Benny's flight left SL at 2:15 pm and got into Dallas a few hours later. After a short layover, he flew from Dallas to Sao Paulo and arrived at 7:30ish in the morning. Brazil is 3 hours ahead of those of us in the Mountain time zone, so that would have been 4:30 am our time.Also, just a note of explanation: in Jessa's mission, the wall air conditioning units were called climas (klee-mahs). The older generation had lots of maladies they associated with the climas in order to get them turned off, like they caused back pain or illness. As a family, we have adopted that word. At the Locey reunion this summer, the clima in our condo started leaking water like crazy. Jacob went to the office to tell them the clima was broken. "The what?!" "You know, the clima!" We've laughed a lot about that!)
Hi I am alive. Here at the CTM. I didn't have any water for like a thousand hours because the people on the plane were weird. I slept about an hour maybe the guy next to me was very nice. He is platinum whatever and the seat next to him is always open. Lucky me. It was him, empty seat, me. I'm only supposed to email mom but I'm on a roll with breaking the rules now. I don't know who my companion is haha. There were about 15 missionaries going from slc to dallas. Then about 30 going to sao paulo. I got very dehydrated. I am ok though and am not dead. They have a cold water button and a normal water temp button. Very cool. Sao Paulo is interesting on the roads. My camera is not good, very bad pictures. Oh well. Every motorcyclist I saw had a helmet. The bus driver was driving the Mercedes equivalent of a Greyhound bus, and he was rippin' through traffic like he was on a little car. Crazy. It is air conditioned in most places in the EL CTM. I'm in room 523. They have climas but it is called a bug long Portuguese word similar to saying air conditioning. My time is almost up. they said I can call or email on Tuesday in the morning or evening or afternoon. I dunno. I feel very sick but am well. This is the Lord's work. I am excited and hope Goiania is different than Sao Paulo. Lovey you all. BennyFarewell Talk
Almost seven years ago, I was asked to give my very first talk in Sacrament Meeting and I was asked to give a talk on how to prepare for a mission. I wrote the talk on the back of a Triscuit box while I was driving back from Bear Lake with my dad and my uncle. Most of what I talked about was being physically prepared and physically ready. One of the things I said was you need to learn how to cook so you don’t have a long two long years of eating mac and cheese. So today I’d like to talk about preparing spiritually for a mission and how I have prepared and my journey to where I am at today.
There’s a scripture that I’m kind of basing my talk off of, and it is Galatians 6:7. It reads, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Back in February was when I really decided to serve a mission. It just started with a thought. I was at school, I was daydreaming, I was just thinking about whatever, and then I thought about college. The school college day was coming up soon and I don't really want to go to college. I was kind of like, hmm, what am I going to do? Then I was at work a few days later and I was thinking, do I want to do this for the rest of my life? What do I want to do for the rest of my life? There’s a few lines in my patriarchal blessing that says my mission will help determine my career. So that’s been one thing that I’m like hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. Then after I thought about that, a thought popped into my mind, what about a mission? I had never thought about that before until then. Yeah I told everyone, I’m going on a mission eventually, and I guess eventually showed up. Those thoughts were similar to the thoughts I had about my patriarchal blessing. When I thought about getting my patriarchal blessing, I heard about it everywhere: it was in talks at church, it showed up at home, it showed up everywhere. And then I got my patriarchal blessing. And that’s the same thing that happened with my mission. It just started showing up everywhere: it showed up at church, it showed up at home, it showed up at school, it showed up at work--everyone was asking about a mission. I’m like, I think I’m going to start this. So I texted Bishop and set up a meeting. I'm not really sure what I expected; I guess I thought I wouldn’t have to change anything and well, I’m going on a mission. But oh how I was wrong. I remember coming home and being very overwhelmed and very discouraged about that first meeting that I had with Bishop, and I didn't want to have any more meetings and I didn’t want to go forward with anything else. I thought, how did anyone ever become a missionary? It got much better though. I worked past those little road blocks and road closures, and I had many more meetings with Bishop and I loved them all. I love Bishop Crabtree, and he has helped me with so much in my life, and I am so grateful for Bishop Crabtree. I’m thankful for how patient he has been with me and how he has been so willing to work with me and all of my flaws to make me who I am right now. During this process, I exercised a lot of patience and I said a lot of prayers and I fasted a lot to be at peace with what was happening and to get a confirmation that this was the right thing for me to do, and to overcome these challenges that I had in front of me.
In Enos 1:9 it says, "Now, it came to pass that when I heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them."
During this process and after I became serious about serving a mission, I started having the desire to be different. I also didn't have the desire to do some of the things I was doing before. It was easier for me to say no to some of the things that the people around me were doing. I also started having the desire to go to church and the desire to change to be different from what I was. It was really hard, and it wasn't an overnight, awesome now you're now worthy to be a full time missionary tomorrow. It was a very long process, and I’m grateful for how long that process was because I’ve learned so many things. I often felt discouraged looking too far ahead, thinking I had too much on my plate, but I have learned so much from these experiences and from waiting. I sometimes got a little annoyed that I had to wait a little longer or I had to set another meeting or I had another setback, but all of those experiences have brought me to where I am today and who I am today.
One of those things that I learned was how much I love the temple. The first time that I decided to go to the temple for myself was on a Monday. I didn't know the temple was closed on Mondays. I got into the parking lot and was like nice! There is nobody here! I am going to have the whole temple to myself! Nope. There was nobody there! After that, I tried to go more often. I really have gained a testimony of how the temple is the Lord's house and His spirit really is there. When I went through the temple to get endowed I was a little worried. I had a few what if’s going through my brain, but I was curious. When my dad and I got out of the car, I was overcome with the spirit. I knew this was the right thing for me to do. It took me a while to set up a date to go but I am so glad that I did. When I got into the celestial room I was overcome with the spirit and how everything felt so familiar. It was the same feeling of coming home after a vacation and going and sitting on your couch or your bed; it had the sense of home and the sense of where we came from and where we can go. I have seen the blessings in my life from going through the temple. It has helped me to stay strong and stay focused on preparing for my mission. It is such an amazing blessing to have so many temples so close to us.
I have also gained a testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost. He can and he will comfort you, guide you, protect you, and warn you--among many other things--if you ask and let him in. I want to bring this gift to as many others as I can in Brazil and anywhere else because it has blessed me so much and meant so much to me.
I have also gained a testimony of the power of the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon, and the spirit that comes when I study the Book of Mormon, and how wonderful it is. I tell myself that I need to go to bed when I’m reading the scriptures, and I get a little bummed out because I can’t keep reading more. Since I started reading the Book of Mormon for my mission, I have found so many things that apply to me and so many things that have helped me and stood out to me, and to have the knowledge that the Book of Mormon and those words are so true and are so powerful. Like the gift of the spirit, I want to bring the Book of Mormon to as many people as will hear because of the way it has blessed me and helped me through this process of serving a mission and gaining a testimony.
I have also gained a testimony of the Lord's hand in all things. From the time that the thought was placed into my mind of becoming a missionary until now, giving a farewell talk and leaving for the next two years, the Spirit has been with me so much. Looking back I can see the Lord's hand in helping me and my family through so many things from buying the last white shirts that were in stock to finding people that have helped us know what to expect and what to get and what to bring. Without them, I think I’d bring a sweatshirt to Brazil. Truly, there are so many things and so many blessings that have come from the patience and the desire to serve the Lord.
I love this ward family and everyone that is here, and you all mean so much to me and have made such an impact on my life. I am excited to go on this new adventure and learn all the many things that God needs me to learn. I’m also excited to learn about a new culture, a new language, and a new people that I have never met.
I am grateful that God has been mindful of me while I was wandering in a strange land, as described in Alma 26:36. I have never before felt better about any decision I have ever made in my life than this one, to serve the Lord. I am so grateful that the Lord has called me to Brazil. When I first got my mission call to Brazil, I was a little skeptical. I read Brazil and was like, what is in Brazil? Where is Brazil? And then I read Goiania, and I said where is Goiania? What is in Goiania? But I know for a fact that the Lord knows me better than I ever will, and I have a new knowledge that Brazil is where I am supposed to go to serve my mission. I am thankful that He has given me a love for Brazil and for the people of Brazil. I know that if you are spending your time in the right places and making an effort to make the right decisions, the Lord will bless you.
There’s a scripture that I’m kind of basing my talk off of, and it is Galatians 6:7. It reads, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. Back in February was when I really decided to serve a mission. It just started with a thought. I was at school, I was daydreaming, I was just thinking about whatever, and then I thought about college. The school college day was coming up soon and I don't really want to go to college. I was kind of like, hmm, what am I going to do? Then I was at work a few days later and I was thinking, do I want to do this for the rest of my life? What do I want to do for the rest of my life? There’s a few lines in my patriarchal blessing that says my mission will help determine my career. So that’s been one thing that I’m like hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. Then after I thought about that, a thought popped into my mind, what about a mission? I had never thought about that before until then. Yeah I told everyone, I’m going on a mission eventually, and I guess eventually showed up. Those thoughts were similar to the thoughts I had about my patriarchal blessing. When I thought about getting my patriarchal blessing, I heard about it everywhere: it was in talks at church, it showed up at home, it showed up everywhere. And then I got my patriarchal blessing. And that’s the same thing that happened with my mission. It just started showing up everywhere: it showed up at church, it showed up at home, it showed up at school, it showed up at work--everyone was asking about a mission. I’m like, I think I’m going to start this. So I texted Bishop and set up a meeting. I'm not really sure what I expected; I guess I thought I wouldn’t have to change anything and well, I’m going on a mission. But oh how I was wrong. I remember coming home and being very overwhelmed and very discouraged about that first meeting that I had with Bishop, and I didn't want to have any more meetings and I didn’t want to go forward with anything else. I thought, how did anyone ever become a missionary? It got much better though. I worked past those little road blocks and road closures, and I had many more meetings with Bishop and I loved them all. I love Bishop Crabtree, and he has helped me with so much in my life, and I am so grateful for Bishop Crabtree. I’m thankful for how patient he has been with me and how he has been so willing to work with me and all of my flaws to make me who I am right now. During this process, I exercised a lot of patience and I said a lot of prayers and I fasted a lot to be at peace with what was happening and to get a confirmation that this was the right thing for me to do, and to overcome these challenges that I had in front of me.In Enos 1:9 it says, "Now, it came to pass that when I heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them."
During this process and after I became serious about serving a mission, I started having the desire to be different. I also didn't have the desire to do some of the things I was doing before. It was easier for me to say no to some of the things that the people around me were doing. I also started having the desire to go to church and the desire to change to be different from what I was. It was really hard, and it wasn't an overnight, awesome now you're now worthy to be a full time missionary tomorrow. It was a very long process, and I’m grateful for how long that process was because I’ve learned so many things. I often felt discouraged looking too far ahead, thinking I had too much on my plate, but I have learned so much from these experiences and from waiting. I sometimes got a little annoyed that I had to wait a little longer or I had to set another meeting or I had another setback, but all of those experiences have brought me to where I am today and who I am today.
One of those things that I learned was how much I love the temple. The first time that I decided to go to the temple for myself was on a Monday. I didn't know the temple was closed on Mondays. I got into the parking lot and was like nice! There is nobody here! I am going to have the whole temple to myself! Nope. There was nobody there! After that, I tried to go more often. I really have gained a testimony of how the temple is the Lord's house and His spirit really is there. When I went through the temple to get endowed I was a little worried. I had a few what if’s going through my brain, but I was curious. When my dad and I got out of the car, I was overcome with the spirit. I knew this was the right thing for me to do. It took me a while to set up a date to go but I am so glad that I did. When I got into the celestial room I was overcome with the spirit and how everything felt so familiar. It was the same feeling of coming home after a vacation and going and sitting on your couch or your bed; it had the sense of home and the sense of where we came from and where we can go. I have seen the blessings in my life from going through the temple. It has helped me to stay strong and stay focused on preparing for my mission. It is such an amazing blessing to have so many temples so close to us.
I have also gained a testimony of the gift of the Holy Ghost. He can and he will comfort you, guide you, protect you, and warn you--among many other things--if you ask and let him in. I want to bring this gift to as many others as I can in Brazil and anywhere else because it has blessed me so much and meant so much to me.
I have also gained a testimony of the power of the scriptures, specifically the Book of Mormon, and the spirit that comes when I study the Book of Mormon, and how wonderful it is. I tell myself that I need to go to bed when I’m reading the scriptures, and I get a little bummed out because I can’t keep reading more. Since I started reading the Book of Mormon for my mission, I have found so many things that apply to me and so many things that have helped me and stood out to me, and to have the knowledge that the Book of Mormon and those words are so true and are so powerful. Like the gift of the spirit, I want to bring the Book of Mormon to as many people as will hear because of the way it has blessed me and helped me through this process of serving a mission and gaining a testimony.I have also gained a testimony of the Lord's hand in all things. From the time that the thought was placed into my mind of becoming a missionary until now, giving a farewell talk and leaving for the next two years, the Spirit has been with me so much. Looking back I can see the Lord's hand in helping me and my family through so many things from buying the last white shirts that were in stock to finding people that have helped us know what to expect and what to get and what to bring. Without them, I think I’d bring a sweatshirt to Brazil. Truly, there are so many things and so many blessings that have come from the patience and the desire to serve the Lord.
I love this ward family and everyone that is here, and you all mean so much to me and have made such an impact on my life. I am excited to go on this new adventure and learn all the many things that God needs me to learn. I’m also excited to learn about a new culture, a new language, and a new people that I have never met.
I am grateful that God has been mindful of me while I was wandering in a strange land, as described in Alma 26:36. I have never before felt better about any decision I have ever made in my life than this one, to serve the Lord. I am so grateful that the Lord has called me to Brazil. When I first got my mission call to Brazil, I was a little skeptical. I read Brazil and was like, what is in Brazil? Where is Brazil? And then I read Goiania, and I said where is Goiania? What is in Goiania? But I know for a fact that the Lord knows me better than I ever will, and I have a new knowledge that Brazil is where I am supposed to go to serve my mission. I am thankful that He has given me a love for Brazil and for the people of Brazil. I know that if you are spending your time in the right places and making an effort to make the right decisions, the Lord will bless you.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
The Call
We were in Colorado at a family reunion when The Call arrived. Thank heavens for the new digital delivery system! We opened it with our own little family first (FaceTime with Jessa who was in the middle of finals week and couldn't come to the reunion with us). We had an extended family talent show that night. Benny asked the aunt in charge if he could go last. We didn't tell anyone that he had received his call. Here's the video:
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